Question

Cotton fibres are obtained from
A. Leaf
B. Seed
C. Root
D. Phloem

Answer 1

Hint: Gossypium is the genus name of the cotton plant. It is one of the most cultivated plants in India and it is mainly used as a raw material for textiles. They are grown in arid and semiarid regions.

Complete step by step answer: Gossypium is the genus name of the cotton plant that grows in a ball and belongs to the family Malvaceae. Cotton fibres have a multilayered structure with a primary cell wall, secondary wall, and a lumen. It is made up of cellulose 1,4-d-glucopyranose, but the outer layers of the cotton fibre are made up of non-cellulosic materials and it is the outer layer that is mostly used for processing and later use. The cotton plant is a shrub that grows in the tropical and subtropical regions of America, Africa, Egypt, and India. The cotton fibre is twisted and drawn out into the yarn and then it is used in many textile industries. The species growing in India and Pakistan is the Gossypium arboreum. The cotton fibre is obtained from the seed of the plant and once the seed is fully matured, the cotton fibres grow into full round ball structures that are harvested. The harvesting can be done by handpicking the cotton ball. It is mainly practised in Egypt by using a spindle picker and the process of separating the cotton fibre from its seeds is called ginning. The cotton fibres are mainly hollow fibres that are soft, breathable, and also works as an absorbent. It can survive in high temperatures.
Hence, the correct answer is option B.

Note: Genetically modified cotton known as the Bt-cotton is developed from Bacillus thuringienesis using the recombinant DNA technology that has resistance to the pesticides. Organic cotton is also cultivated without using fertilizers and pesticides.